Unconscious manipulation of free choice in humans

Conscious Cogn. 2006 Jun;15(2):397-408. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2005.10.002. Epub 2005 Nov 28.

Abstract

Previous research has shown that subliminally presented stimuli accelerate or delay responses afforded by supraliminally presented stimuli. Our experiments extend these findings by showing that unconscious stimuli even affect free choices between responses. Thus, actions that are phenomenally experienced as freely chosen are influenced without the actor becoming aware of the manipulation. However, the unconscious influence is limited to a response bias, as participants chose the primed response only in up to 60% of the trials. LRP data in free choice trials indicate that the prime was not ineffective in trials in which participants chose the non-primed response as then it delayed performance of the incongruently primed response.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness
  • Choice Behavior / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Machiavellianism*
  • Male
  • Mathematics
  • Reaction Time
  • Unconsciousness
  • Visual Perception